This homemade apple cider recipe is easy to make with 7 ingredients in the slow cooker. Fresh apples, rich fall spices and a pinch of sweetness makes the most delicious apple cider you'll ever taste - better than store-bought varieties!
Put apples, orange, cinnamon sticks, cloves, cinnamon sticks, ground nutmeg and brown sugar in the container of a slow cooker (at least 5 quarts).
Pour water over the ingredients in the crock pot until covered by about ½” (this is usually about 10 cups water), stir with a wooden spoon to combine.
Turn crockpot on to high and cook the mixture for 4 hours.
After 4 hours, remove the orange pieces and discard them.
Then, use a potato masher to mash the cooked apples (this should be easy to do).
Continue cooking on high for an additional 1 hour, with the lid about halfway ajar.
Strain the mixture through a fine metal sieve into a large glass bowl (I use an 8 cup batter bowl, this recipe makes about 8 cups or 2 L).
Gently press out the liquid from the apple mixture in the strainer into the bowl. (note: if you have a smaller strainer you may need to do this in a few batches. Discard the apple/spice mixture after you have pressed the liquid out, then repeat with another portion).
Transfer the cider to chill overnight (this allows the flavor to blend and the sweetness to intensify), or serve immediately. Reheat to serve warm.
Store in a glass jar with a lid for up to 1 week.
Video
Notes
Ingredient Substitutions
Apples. Pick your favorite variety or use a combination of different types of apples. I recommend pink lady, honey crisp, gala, jazz, granny smith, etc. A sweet/tart variety is my favorite.
Orange. Any type of orange works well in this recipe.
Cinnamon Sticks. you can substitute ½ tsp ground cinnamon for the sticks if you prefer, but I recommend cinnamon sticks.
Whole Cloves and Allspice berries. there aren't substitutions for these ingredients, but I do need to add a note. Do not just haphazardly dump spices into this recipe. Using too many spices will result in bitter apple cider.
Ground nutmeg. you can substitute one whole nutmeg for the ground, if you prefer. However whole nutmeg is difficult to find, and when I use it to make this apple cider recipe I find it leaves a bitter taste that we don't prefer. Ground nutmeg imparts the perfect amount of flavor.
Light brown sugar. Use your favorite sweetener, if desired. Suggestions include: dark brown sugar, coconut sugar, honey, and maple syrup.
Water. I suggest using filtered water for the best results.
Make on StovetopYou can use a large stockpot and simmer the ingredients, covered, for 2 hours. Then remove the oranges, mash the apples and cook for an additional 1 hour, then follow the recipe.StoreStore in the refrigerator in two, quart-sized glass jars with lids for up to 1 week. Or if you have a larger glass jar use that instead!